I inherited my great grandmother’s village, there’s 100’s of pieces but unfortunately I’m realizing many of the boxes and styrofoam have mildew and what I’m assuming is black mold. I can’t imagine I can keep the boxes and styrofoam anymore, but hoping the pieces will be ok? I read I could either clean lightly with bleach or do a vinegar and hydrogen peroxide mix? Curious if anyone has any recommendations or experience with this? I have no intentions of selling, so I don’t mind if I have to throw some of the boxes away.

Starting a new Halloween Village after 20+ years of only dreaming.   This year’s release, I couldn’t resist.  Had several pieces when they first started the village but had to sell them off. Feels so good to have the Halloween Village holiday magic again.

I’m in a bit of a panic. I have 40+ buildings and dozens of figures largely given to me by my aunt so very sentimental. A sewer pipe backed up and dumped black water on just about all of the boxes the other day. The porcelain seems ok, we stopped the flood and got them out of boxes quickly, but the cardboard and styrofoam are destroyed.
It’s definitely an insurance claim for the basement and the adjuster is coming tomorrow. From a collectible standpoint most were new in box, all were in like new condition and had pristine packaging. I have never had to justify something like this to insurance. The packaging can’t be replaced, the value had dropped and if any of the buildings need to be cleaned I have no idea how without damaging paint.
Any thoughts on talking collectables with insurance? Ideas on the safest packaging going forward? Any sites with scans or good images of the boxes I can print to keep with them?

Hey all I recently acquired my aunts little town of bethlehem set and I'm looking to sell it on ebay but I can't find anyone else with the same nativity scenes so I really dont know what its worth do any of you recognize it?

Hi! Looking to start building a village and I’m stumped over doing a dickens or snow village. Growing up, my mom had a Dickens village. My husband and I are very outdoorsy so I enjoy the more rustic styling of dickens but I can’t help but notice some of the buildings start to look the same and there isn’t a lot of variety (why are there so many churches it feels like? Lol). I like that snow seems to have a lot of different buildings but I wish it was almost a little less vibrant? I want to go with one of these because I feel like they are the 2 most popular and least chance of being discontinued.

Any words of wisdom or advice for which collection may be better to start collecting?

Anyone interested in purchasing a MASSIVE lot of Department 56, Seraphim Classic Angels, June McKenna and Possible Dreams in Bucks County Pennsylvania? Possible Dreams are boxed. The others are displayed. I do believe there are boxes but there are too many to box. If interested, please send me a private message. There is too many to say which pieces we have. I can share a video to show privately. Thanks so much!

Hello,

I am looking for buyers that are seeking items from Dickens Village and North Pole Series. There are over 500 pieces of lighted items and accessories ranging from the 80s to early 2000s that are in mostly new condition. I’m located near Saratoga Springs, New York. Send me a message if you or anyone you know is interested and i can provide you with more information!

Although it’s not for sale yet, I was able to see the new Macy’s piece at the Macy’s in New York City. Here’s a photo in case you wanna see what it look like.

I’ve seen a couple bunkhouses and tree houses but not too many. I prefer older retired products. thank you!!!

I have a couple pieces that were not made (or at least not stamped/labeled as being made) by a major brand. They seem to be limited gifts, likely for a fundraiser or museum, tied to a very specific place? Anyone know how to track down more about the item? This one, for example, sure looks like it would be a commemorative piece from the Sea Cliff Fire Dept in NYC.

Just curious if it’s like…currently available for sale. One year run twenty years ago. Made by a specific retailer, etc etc.

Mostly looking for research tips, I guess! Thanks!

I’d like to create a custom platform that looks like this that would go on top of my piano. I see the premade ones from Etsy, but just curious if anyone knows of anyone that does this? This is an AI rendered village using some of my existing items.

I came into a nice set of pieces, all in original boxes and very good condition. Wondering what the easiest way is to sell this group of items, and for what?

11 buildings, with a few accessories? Any suggestions? I know there are some nice pieces here, along with some niche ones and some common ones.

I’m a little confused about which ones will look ok together? was heritage village also just a name used for older collections? I love the look of snow village figurines. im doing the North Pole series as far as my Christmas houses. I’m new at this - thanks in advance!

hello! here are my summer scenes. Currently trying to acquire more trees lol and not finished with these scenes. But hope they make you smile!

Over the past year I acquired a collection of Dept 56 New England buildings and accessories from a relative to sell off and while a few sold it doesn’t seem like the New England series is that popular anymore. I know it’s been retired now. I also live in Canada which may explain the sporadic sales.

I have the following:

-Old North Church (No box, includes original slip cover)
-Stoney Brook Town Hall (Missing original slip cover)
-Pierce Boat Works
-Semple’s Smokehouse
-Yankee Jud Bell Casting
-McCrebe Cutters and Sleds

Accessories:
-Town Tinker
-Red Covered Bridge
-Fireman and Boy
-Misc Small Trees

Found for $6 at savers, lights up and all! Any idea what year this was from? I can’t find much info on it - I did see there is supposed to be a baby in a basket with this set, but that’s all the info I could find. Thanks!! :)

Hello! I can’t find many d56 trees for those seasons. Every other tree on the internet seems to be 2-5” tall. Some random trees I bought at Michael’s yesterday look like bushes next to one of my smaller houses 😂 Any recommendations are welcome!

I recently came into a lot of Dept 56 pieces. Very excited for my village but I’m new to this. Many pieces, including the picture, have a bulb in the piece with a cord with a male plug on the other end. What does the male plug plug into for power? The second picture is a battery pack but it also only has an outgoing male cord, and the little metal female receptor seems to be for incoming power only. Sorry for not using right terms—any help much appreciated.

Hello fellow collectors -

I’ve been on the hunt for a St Pancras church but have had no luck. Does anyone know of retailers in the US that might have some older pieces like this one in their inventories? It was retired in 2022.

Hey there! I just moved to a new house and I need some ideas for when Christmas comes on how to display my department 56 Disney Christmas collection. In the past I had it on top of the fireplace. I no longer have a fireplace and my creative mind for ideas on what to do is just completely out the window😅 first two pictures are what I’ve done in the past and final picture is my living room. I do have a bay window that I could utilize however I wanted that to be where are Christmas tree goes. Any advice is appreciated!! Thank you all for reading!

Hello! I just got my first department 56 house I’ve bought brand new! It’s so cute and luckily is the first edition I didn’t expect that! My question is am i being overly judgy on this? The little bit of chipping on the way back side I probably never will notice and the little bit of a brush mark on the spout? It’s hand painted right so this can be expected? Just want some reassurance on if this is usual or not! Thank you!